Short Guided Hikes

Escape into the wilderness for 2 to 5 days – no experience necessary.

The Adventure Gene Difference

World Class Gear & Clothing

Our signature Ultralight Comfort System™ is designed to keep you warm, dry, safe and happy.

Beginner Friendly

No prior hiking experience is needed to join us on any of our trips. You just need a good level of fitness.

Expert Guides

Our guides are industry pioneers and winter experts. With over 40,000km of experience, you know you’re in safe hands.

Small Groups

We only provide small group experiences. With 2 guides and up to 10 guests, you’ll be well looked after and can walk at your own pace.

The Adventure Experts

Our short trips are designed for hikers who want to experience Australia’s wild places in a safe and beginner-friendly environment, without needing weeks off work.

Our Short Hikes

Australian Alps Walking Track: Kosciuszko to Hotham

Tackle the rugged middle third of the Australian Alps Walking Track. Explore the Cobberas Wilderness, visit the source of the Murray River, and summit Victoria’s highest peaks (Mt Bogong and Mt Feathertop).

Scheduled Departures

Australian Alps Walking Track: Hotham to Walhalla

Tackle the challenging southern third of the Australian Alps Walking Track. Navigate the dramatic Razor-Viking Wilderness, traverse the Crosscut Saw, and walk amongst the granite tors of the Baw Baw Plateau.

Scheduled Departures

Budawangs Traverse

Explore the rugged wilderness of the Budawangs on this trek through Morton National Park. Navigate the forested gorges of Monolith Valley, discover sandstone caves, and take in sweeping views atop rocky plateaus.

Scheduled Departures

Paint & Hike: Sapphire Coast

Spark your creativity on this coastal journey along the Sapphire Coast. Enjoy painting workshops led by a professional artist, swim at secluded beaches, and discover the dramatic geology of this stunning coastline.

Scheduled Departures

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Need help choosing a trip?

You don’t need any hiking experience to come on one of our trips. We make planning simple by providing premium ultralight gear and clothing, nutritious food and private transport from Canberra. Just pack your shoes and the clothes on your back!

The trip you choose will depend on three key factors: scenery, personal goals and difficulty.

Scenery

Each trip has its own distinct character. Here is a quick breakdown of what to expect:

Kosciuszko Summit Hike

Starting at Charlotte Pass, we cross the Snowy River and climb onto the Main Range, home to Australia’s highest peaks. Along the way, we detour to Blue Lake Lookout to see one of only four glacial cirque lakes on the mainland. We then pass Club Lake and Lake Albina before camping at Wilkinsons Creek, a peaceful spot known for its sunsets.

After catching the sunrise, it’s a short walk to the summit of Mt Kosciuszko (2228m), well before the crowds arrive. We then pass Seamans Hut, a granite refuge built in 1929, and cross the Snowy River once more on our way back to Charlotte Pass.

Snowies Alpine Walk

We begin at Guthega, following the Snowy River past historic Illawong Lodge before climbing toward the Main Range, with time for an afternoon swim at camp. The next day, we visit Blue Lake Lookout, pass Club Lake and Lake Albina, and summit Mt Kosciuszko (2228m), where the views can stretch beyond 100km on a clear day. We camp near Seamans Hut, renowned for its mountain sunsets.

Leaving the Main Range behind, we wind through twisted snow gums to the granite tors of Porcupine Rocks, a spectacular spot for both sunset and sunrise. Our final day descends through tall alpine ash forest to Bullocks Flat, finishing with a swim in the Thredbo River.

Mt Bimberi & Blue Waterholes

Just an hour from Canberra, we start in Namadgi National Park’s Orroral Valley. It’s home to a former Apollo tracking station and one of Australia’s densest kangaroo populations. Passing through eucalypt forest and granite tors, we camp in the Cotter Catchment before climbing to Murrays Gap, where you can summit Mt Bimberi (1913m), the highest point in the ACT.

Crossing into NSW, we head across the open high plains of Kosciuszko National Park to Old Currango Homestead (1873), the oldest historic hut in the park. Our final day is spent exploring Blue Waterholes, a striking landscape of limestone gorges and caves, finishing with a swim at the base of Cooleman Falls.

Budawangs Traverse

Just 1.5 hours from Canberra, the Budawangs offer a completely different experience to the Alps. Our route through Morton National Park follows the base of towering sandstone cliffs and weaves in and out of natural caves. Along the way, there are side trips to Corang Arch and the summit of Mt Tarn, and swims in cool lagoons and waterholes.

The highlight is Monolith Valley, a lost world of moss-covered rocks and temperate rainforest. From there, we scramble through Nibelung Pass to camp at Cooyoyo, where the views stretch all the way to the coast and the sunrise is one of the best in the Budawangs.

Personal goals

Your choice of trip also depends on your ultimate goal. If you only have a couple of days to spare, we recommend the Kosciuszko Summit Hike. It’s our shortest trip and a great first taste of camping in the mountains.

If summiting Mt Kosciuszko is on your bucket list, both the Kosciuszko Summit Hike and the Snowies Alpine Walk will get you there. The Snowies Alpine Walk gives you more time in the mountains, with extra nights at camp and plenty of chances to swim.

If you want the greatest variety of scenery, we recommend Mt Bimberi & Blue Waterholes. It takes you from granite-studded valleys and eucalypt forest to open high plains and limestone gorges.

Finally, if you’re after adventure and a real sense of remoteness, we recommend the Budawangs Traverse, with its caves, sandstone cliffs and rock scrambling.

Difficulty

Our short trips range from 2 to 5 days, and all require you to comfortably carry a ~10kg pack over uneven terrain. The average daily distance and elevation stats are below:

Kosciuszko Summit Hike (2 days): 11.5km (463m)

Snowies Alpine Walk (4 days): 13.2km (441m)

Mt Bimberi & Blue Waterholes (4 days): 13km (465m)

Budawangs Traverse (5 days): 5.9km (210m)

Daily walking times are generally between 4 and 8 hours, with the primary difference being how steep and technical the trail is.

The Kosciuszko Summit Hike and Snowies Alpine Walk are our easiest trips and are rated Easy – Moderate. Mt Bimberi & Blue Waterholes is rated Moderate, with some longer days and off-track walking. The Budawangs Traverse is the most challenging and is rated Moderate – Challenging. Despite its short daily distances, the terrain is rugged and slow going, with rock scrambling and a chain-assisted descent.

Map

Get a quick visual overview of the three AAWT trips we have on offer.

Brochure

Everything you need to know about our AAWT trips.

Short Hikes Calendar

Check out our trip calendar for a visual overview of all upcoming short hikes!

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FAQs

Curious about our short trips? We’ve answered our most common questions to make planning your adventure stress-free.

I'm new to hiking, are your trips suitable for beginners?

Yes! You don’t need any prior hiking or camping experience to join us. We provide a detailed pre-trip preparation package, and our guides will teach you everything you need to know. The only prerequisite is your physical fitness. It is essential that you are capable of carrying a 10kg pack over uneven terrain.

Where do your trips go?

Our short trips explore four very different landscapes.

Kosciuszko Summit Hike
Cross the Main Range, home to Australia’s highest peaks and glacial lakes, and summit Mt Kosciuszko on this 2 day trip.

Snowies Alpine Walk
Spend 4 days in the Snowy Mountains, combining Mt Kosciuszko and the Main Range with snow gum woodlands, granite tors and alpine rivers.

Mt Bimberi & Blue Waterholes
Walk from Namadgi National Park into Kosciuszko National Park over 4 days, taking in the ACT’s highest peak, historic huts and the limestone gorges of Blue Waterholes.

Budawangs Traverse
Explore the sandstone cliffs, caves and rainforest of Morton National Park on this 5 day trip.

Am I fit enough?

All of our short trips require you to carry a 10kg pack over uneven terrain, including some off-track walking. To ensure you are ready, you will need to do some training before the trip. We highly recommend engaging in at least 3 hours of physical activity each week, such as running, cycling, swimming, team sports, or hiking up and down hills. Walking on flat pavement is not adequate preparation.

If you can, we also recommend doing a few practice walks carrying a loaded pack before we depart.

What do I need to bring?

We provide all the gear and outer-layer clothing as part of our Ultralight Comfort System™. This includes (but is not limited to) tents, sleeping bags, hiking packs, hiking poles, down jackets, down pants and fleece layers.

The only things you need to bring are your base layers and personal items:

Long-sleeve shirt and hiking pants
Shoes (either trail runners or hiking boots)
Socks and underwear
A hat and sunglasses

What’s included in the trip price?

Included in the trip price is the following:

Use of world-class ultralight gear and clothing
Cooked meals, snacks, and hot drinks (excluding breakfast on Day 1 and dinner on the last day)
Return transport from Canberra
2 expert guides (a 1:5 guide-to-guest ratio)
Pre-trip support and a detailed preparation package (including packing video)

What group sizes can I expect on a trip?

All trips are intentionally small, with up to 10 guests, accompanied by 2 guides. This ratio ensures a personal, comfortable, and well-paced experience.

Who will be guiding me?

All of our guides are highly experienced in navigating the Australian backcountry. While each guide brings their own unique style and interests to the trail, they all share a commitment to being supportive, knowledgeable, and ensuring your trip is one to remember. We will let you know who your guides are about a month before departure, though please note this can occasionally change on short notice.

Will I be cold?

All trips include access to our Ultralight Comfort System™. Designed by experts and curated from manufacturers around the world, this premium gear and clothing package is designed to keep you safe, warm, dry and happy in the mountains!

Our setup features double-walled tents, -8°C sleeping bags, and -20°C sleeping mats. We also supply fleece layers, down jackets and down pants. This keeps the vast majority of hikers warm, but we have extra layers ready if you tend to get cold easily.

I still have questions?

We know preparing for a trip brings up plenty of questions! Email or call us, and one of our senior guides will be more than happy to answer them.

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Reviews

Browse our verified Google reviews to see what others are saying about our trips.

      
 Excellent4.9171 reviews
 4.9
 Excellent171 reviews
  Write a review 
 
 
 
    
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   James Biggam 
 3 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Just completed the five day Budawangs traverse and loved it. Maddie and Tom made this premier hike accessible to a noob.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   anonymous 
 3 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The guide was , positive, kind and supportive. Willing to go above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable whilst keeping us on schedule, hydrated , nourished and smiling. The artist was an inspiration and also very kind   Sharing skill and bringing  time to a standstill while we could embrace and capture the beauty of the scene we were painting
The company , TAG, were also organised supportive and quick to reply. The equipment and clothing is of high quality and suited the environment. I was always warm at night .  That’s a miracle for me!  I would easily go again on another’ paint and hike’
with TAG.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Julie Curran 
 3 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +2
Wonderful experience doing 5 day Budawangs hike with Adventure Genie.The hike itself is remote and beautiful.Our campsite on our last night had the most spectacular views.Maddie and Tearloch looked after us well, cooking delicious meals,we had so much food,no chance of going hungry.This trip is excellent value as so much gear ( and it’s very high quality) is supplied.This included backpacks,hiking poles,tents sleeping bags,rain jackets and pants,warm clothing,sunglasses headlamps,sunscreen,even chargers.As someone who has done a lot of multi day hiking,I’ve never had to take so little of my own gear,it was great.Thank you,would love to do another hike with Adventure Genie.They  are fantastic
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   BELINDA PORCHERA 
 4 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +2
Great Aussie hiking company ,they are very experienced , friendly , encouraging , helpful from the very beginning  ,their knowledge is endless .Whether you’re a first time multi-iday hiker with no equipment to very experienced with your own ,Adventure Gene can help fill the gaps supplying quality equipment and great food for your hike
Make the first move and call adventure gene You’ll have the best time
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Deb Fisher 
 4 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +0
Just finished a 4-day hike & paint with The Adventure Gene/TAG and they were AMAZING! They truly did supply EVERYTHING - except the clothes we wore and extra socks and undies - and the gear was light and top quality. The guides were fantastic and I've never been so well-fed camping.  Thanks,  TAG team!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Jacqui Warden 
 4 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I recently adventured into the Budawangs with The Adventure Gene. What a great experience, from the initial communication, the preparation session and the actual experience. The gear was sorted with everything we needed and made for the lightest pack I have needed to carry on a multi-day hike. The guides, Maddy and T were fabulous and led a group of us through wilderness, making sure we were comfortable and safe at all times. They preorganized 'moody' weather, light rain and brilliant sunshine to add to our experience. And the food was great, tasty and plenty of it! What more could you ask for? I would not hesitate to recommend TAG as a leader in their field of outdoor adventures.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Merran Dunn 
 5 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I have just returned from a 5 day hike in the Buddawangs with The Adventure Gene. This is the second hike l have done with them ! Both have been fantastic! Challenging, fun, social and educational. I took only what  was  recommended , nothing more and it was perfect. Despite some miserable weather for the first couple of days and therefore getting soaking wet whilst walking, l was warm and comfortable in my tent and had adequate clothing.
Our guides, Maddie and Tearloch were guiding us  not just along the route , but also allowing our group to develop its own dynamics. They were  fun, but you never doubted  how seriously they took safety, nutrition, equipment and their role in making it a great experience.
Everything  was well organised but really relaxed. These people really know their stuff and do all the preparation  except your personal fitness . This  is a serious hike, so take the training seriously and you'll love it. I did.

Merran
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Amanda “Mazza” Lovegrove 
 9 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I recently did a four-day snow hiking trip in the Snowy Mountains with Adventure Gene, and I honestly couldn't recommend it highly enough.

We had some pretty wild weather, including torrential rain on the second day, which turned to snow overnight. Maddie and Tearloch were fantastic throughout the whole trip and adapted everything around the weather while keeping us safe and still making sure we had a great experience.

One of the things that attracted me to book the trip was being able to try out thousands of dollars' worth of specialised snow camping and hiking gear supplied by Adventure Gene. Being able to actually use everything in real conditions was fantastic — and it definitely helped me work out what gear I wanted for myself! I've since bought quite a few of the things I used, including the same Wippa backpack and Sea to Summit Spark sleeping bag.

The guides also showed us how to use the Garmin inReach, which gave me the confidence to buy my own and, more importantly, know how to use it properly when I'm out hiking.

The other people on the trip were lovely and it was great meeting and sharing the experience with such a nice group.
The biggest thing I took away from the trip was confidence. I now feel much more comfortable heading out on my own, including into snow and more remote areas. I learnt so much about the gear, planning, navigation and just dealing with whatever the weather throws at you.

I'd definitely recommend Adventure Gene to anyone wanting to get into snow hiking or build their confidence in the outdoors. It was an awesome four days and an experience I'll remember forever, thank you so much!
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Cindy 
 10 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I completed the Budawangs Traverse with Maddy and Mr T in September 2026, guided by Adventure Gene from Canberra. It was an outstanding experience from start to finish. The hike was beautifully organised, the meals were hot, tasty, and generous—there were even leftovers most days, so don’t be shy about asking for more. Dietary needs were thoughtfully catered for, and the snack selection was excellent (just try not to eat all the goodies in the first few days, it’s very tempting!).

I hesitated at first about using the lightweight gear provided, but I’m so glad I did—it was absolutely worth it. The whole walk was a joy, and Adventure Gene proved to be a well‑run, professional, and caring outfit. I’ve already booked my next hike with them.

Highly recommended.
  
 
     Posted on Google  
   
   Cath Chase 
 10 days ago
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. +6
The 4 day Hike and Paint trip was fantastic. Our guides, Tearloch and Annika, were exceptionally organised, kind and knowledgable. The ultra-light equipment provided made the multi-day walk quite doable.